Die Allianz T-D-P » work briefly.Its time for Dodger baseball!

RIO DE JANEIRO -- A whole lot of speed, sweat and world records later, the pecking order of the Olympic womens team pursuit podium remained the same as four years ago.Defending champion Great Britain reconfirmed its supremacy on Saturday over the U.S. team led by veteran Sarah Hammer in the gold medal final in a world record time of 4 minutes 10.236 seconds. The gap was a decisive 2.214 seconds -- the third new standard of the day and fourth of the competition overall.Ive never been part of a team that feels so seamless, said animated English rider Laura Trott of the effort by Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Joanna Rowsell-Shand and herself. Trotts third gold medal, along with team pursuit and omnium championships from London 2012, made her the most successful female British Olympian in history.Trott said she knew a world record was in the cards after the team notched a 4:13 in its holding camp, but she described the championship ride as shockingly easy.Just felt like we rode round, she said.Hammer and a trio of young and immensely talented American riders -- Jennifer Valente, 21, of San Diego; Kelly Catlin, 20, of Arden Hills, Minnesota; and Chloe Dygert, 19, of Brownsburg, Indiana -- pulled off an upset at the world championships in London in March, but they knew Great Britain would be formidable in Rio.Look, we were going for gold, but obviously Im still so proud of the team and what weve accomplished, said Hammer, who won her first individual world championship 10 years ago.Were kind of the little team that could, going up against the big machine, said Hammer, who will turn 33 in a few days. Thats how the U.S. rolls. Were the underdogs; thats what motivates us. We came close, we tried to push them, but they were the better team.Hammer said she hasnt decided how much longer shell compete but that she definitely wont extend her career another four years.She has more racing to do in Rio in another event in which shes had considerable success: the omnium -- track cyclings arduous two-day multidiscipline equivalent of the pentathlon -- on Monday and Tuesday. Hammer won the omnium silver medal at London 2012.Whenever Hammer decides to bow out, shell leave a more-than-solid foundation for the future.In March, still fresh off the world title, Hammer commended the U.S. coaching staff for scouting more specialized, power-oriented athletes, rather than simply converting time trial specialists.It may look fluid and beautiful to a spectator watching, but it is raw and tough when were out there, Hammer told ESPN.com then. We are going superfast, millimeters apart from each other; one mistake and its over. I know theres tons of athletes out there. When Im done, hopefully theyll continue this flow.Indeed, head U.S. Olympic track coach Andy Sparks said he has never seen a young rider take to the track as naturally as Dygert, whose main challenge might be to decide how to channel her talent without overextending herself. Youre never going to have to worry about complacency with her, Sparks said a few months ago.Dygert swept the world junior time trial and road race titles in Richmond, Virginia, last year, attacking out of a breakaway on the final circuit in the latter to solo home. She wants to try to continue to balance road and track. Cant is not in my vocabulary, Dygert said matter-of-factly.Canada won the bronze medal on Saturday with a time of 4:14.627 to retain the bronze medal it won four years ago.Team GB set a new world record in Thursdays qualifying round, then topped a new mark by the U.S. team on Saturday morning.Trott noted that there was some skepticism when the womens format was changed to match the mens for these Summer Games, expanding the teams to four riders apiece and extending the distance to 4,000 meters.People worried we couldnt get four [world-class] riders, because there arent as many women in cycling, she said. But to come here and see a field like this is pretty incredible.Red Sox Jerseys 2020 . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Boston Red Sox Shirts . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. https://www.cheapredsox.com/ . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Boston Red Sox Pro Shop . PETERSBURG, Fla. Boston Red Sox Store . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel.LOS ANGELES -- Vin Scully has returned to Dodger Stadium for the first time since ending his 67-year career behind the microphone.The 88-year-old Hall of Fame announcer was at Game 5 of the NL Championship Series as a spectator Thursday night. But the Dodgers couldnt resist putting him to work briefly.Its time for Dodger baseball! Scully proclaimed from an upstairs suite, where he planned to watch the game with his wife.Typically that pregame cry is handled by whoever throws out the ceremonial first pitch. On Thursday, it was former Dodgerrs first basemen Steve Garvey and Eric Karros.dddddddddddd They were in position behind home plate and bantered a bit before unveiling the surprise: Scully would say it for all in the audience to hear.Scully called his final game at the stadium last month before concluding his career with the teams regular-season finale in San Francisco on Oct. 2.The Cubs and Dodgers were tied 2-all going into Game 5 of the NLCS. ' ' '